Sharing is Where the Heart is: A Mediation-Moderation Model of Trust and Generosity Influence on Knowledge Sharing in NPOs

Abstract

Knowledge sharing plays a crucial role in the success of organizations, including those relying on the goodwill of their social actors, such as nonprofit organizations (NPOs). While knowledge-based management practices have been adopted in various types of NPOs, research still lacks a comprehensive understanding of the factors driving knowledge sharing, particularly the role of prosocial motivations. Trust, generosity, and team cohesion are recognized as key determinants of knowledge-sharing behavior, yet their interactions and combined effects in NPOs remain insufficiently explored. Following a research design grounded in Social Exchange Theory, this work examines how trust, generosity, and team cohesion contribute to knowledge sharing within Portuguese NPOs using a mediation-moderation model approach. Using survey data and structural equation modelling, we investigate how generosity and team cohesion mediate and moderate the relationship between trust and knowledge sharing. Our findings indicate that trust has a strong, positive impact on generosity and team cohesion, reinforcing its foundational role in knowledge-sharing dynamics. Furthermore, both generosity and team cohesion are positively associated with knowledge sharing. Notably, team cohesion plays a dual role by mediating and moderating the relationship between trust and knowledge sharing, amplifying its effects. Generosity, however, exhibits a more complex influence, serving as a positive mediator while also acting as a negative moderator in this relationship. These results highlight the nuanced interplay between trust, generosity, and team cohesion in shaping knowledge-sharing behaviors within NPOs. By uncovering such dynamics, this study contributes with valuable insights for both scholars and nonprofit managers, offering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that foster effective knowledge-sharing environments in NPOs. The findings emphasize the importance of cultivating trust and team cohesion while managing the dual effects of generosity to optimize knowledge-sharing practices in nonprofit organizations. Our results show trust, team cohesion and generosity influencing KS in NPOs as not seen before, however, the present study is not free from limitations, such as the sample size, and the elimination of some variable items throughout the statistical analysis phase. We are aware that results apply to the specific context of Portuguese NPOs, therefore we invite colleagues to replicate the model in other geographies and, thus, test for national culture effects.